Why Patriarch Bartholomew Cannot Afford to Lose the Case of Tychikos

Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople has unexpectedly found himself in a strategically advantageous position due to the ongoing controversy surrounding Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos. Dismissed from his post by the Synod of the Church of Cyprus in May 2025, Tychikos’s appeal to Constantinople could mark a pivotal moment in redefining the role of Istanbul within the Orthodox world.

How It All Began

The conflict erupted when Metropolitan Tychikos refused to host a Catholic delegation transporting the relic of the Apostle Paul through Cypriot dioceses. This initiative had been arranged by the late Cypriot Archbishop Chrysostomos in agreement with the now-deceased Pope Francis. The current primate, Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus, supported the initiative, viewing Tychikos’s refusal as a serious affront.

Further accusations against Tychikos included his opposition to mixed confessional marriages, consecrating a church in honor of an uncanonized ascetic, and ordaining a priest who had rejected spiritual guidance from a Greek bishop. However, many of these charges appear flimsy or even factually incorrect. For instance, there exists a video in which Tychikos clearly states one should not venerate uncanonized figures.

Archbishop Georgios claimed that Patriarch Bartholomew was informed and deeply concerned, quoting from a personal letter in which Bartholomew expressed “surprise and sorrow” over Tychikos’s “conservative and outdated views” and disrespect toward the "Ecumenical See."

The letter included the Greek phrase “ανακαλέσητε εις την τάξιν”, meaning “to restore order” or “bring into discipline”—a term often used in ecclesiastical contexts. Importantly, it did not call for Tychikos’s removal. Greek theologian Fr. Evangelos Papanikolaou emphasized that the Patriarch’s language suggested correction, not deposition—prompting Tychikos to appeal directly to Constantinople.

A Critical Appeal

On June 5, 2025, Metropolitan Tychikos submitted a formal appeal to Patriarch Bartholomew. This move transferred the final decision from the Cypriot Synod to the Patriarch himself, thus reviving a largely theoretical prerogative: Constantinople’s right to arbitrate inter-Orthodox disputes.

Should Bartholomew uphold the appeal, he gains several advantages:

1. Proof of Jurisdiction: The appeal could validate Constantinople’s contested right to intervene in local Church affairs—particularly disputed by Moscow and other Churches.
2. Confirmation of Global Role: Successfully resolving the issue would demonstrate that “Ecumenical Patriarch” is more than an honorary title—it reflects real capacity to mediate and ensure justice in the Orthodox world.
3. Canonical Integrity: Defending Tychikos—criticized for adhering to traditional Orthodoxy—would counter accusations that Bartholomew is too ecumenically liberal or politically motivated.
4. Rebuilding Trust: Amid criticism over his support for the Ukrainian Orthodox schism and alignment with Western powers, Bartholomew’s defense of a bishop censured for opposing papal involvement would send a strong signal of Orthodox fidelity.
5. Symbol of Unity: The Orthodox Church is deeply fragmented. A just resolution could establish Bartholomew as a unifying moral authority rather than a political actor.

Conclusion

For Patriarch Bartholomew, the Tychikos affair is more than a local controversy—it is a defining moment. By defending traditional ecclesiology and applying canonical justice, he could reshape perceptions of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, silence critics, and reassert Constantinople’s leadership role in world Orthodoxy.

Will he seize this historic opportunity? The entire Orthodox world is watching.

Originally published by the Union of Orthodox Journalists (SPZh)

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